It is said that the right man in the right place at the right time can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This is the dramatic story of 68 soldiers in the US Army's Second Ranger Battalion, Company D - "Dog Company" - who made that difference, time and again. America had many heroes in World War II; however, few can say that, but for them, the course of the war would have been very different. The right men, the right place, the right time - Dog Company.

Your Likes make Audible better!

Publisher's Summary

In the tradition of Band of Brothers, acclaimed combat historian Patrick K. O’Donnell cinematically tells one of World War II’s greatest untold stories.

It is said that the right man in the right place at the right time can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This is the dramatic story of 68 soldiers in the US Army's Second Ranger Battalion, Company D - "Dog Company" - who made that difference, time and again. From D-day, when German guns atop Pointe du Hoc threatened the Allied landings and the men of Dog Company scaled the sheer 90-foot cliffs to destroy them; to the slopes of Hill 400, in Germany’s Hürtgen Forest, where the Rangers launched a desperate bayonet charge across an open field; to a "quiet" section of the Ardennes, where Dog Company suddenly found itself on the tip of the spear at the Battle of the Bulge; the men of Dog Company made the difference.

America had many heroes in World War II; however, few can say that, but for them, the course of the war would have been very different. The right men, the right place, the right time - Dog Company.

Patrick K. O’Donnell is the award-winning author of eight books, including the highly acclaimed account of the Battle of Fallujah We Were One. He has provided historical consulting for Band of Brothers and multiple documentaries. He lives in Austin, Texas.

What the Critics Say

"A great American writer." (Clive Cussler)

"The author’s most important accomplishment among many is to put a human face on the troops who are fighting against some of the fiercest enemies America has ever encountered.… Read O’Donnell’s excellent book." (New York Post on We Were One)

As with most works with a single focus, it can get a bit repetitive. That being said, it is a solid story that tells the story of a unique time and of a unique unit. All of these stories need to be told and listened to. Those that were actually there deserve our attention and understanding to what is really their story.

This was first time with this author. A pretty good performance, but as with most US narrators, I found his pace a touch slow. Maybe that's just me.

I would listen to dog company again because the characters are well drawn and more importantly, real. The author and narrators do a wonderful job of incorporating vivid descriptions of the actions and first Person memories of some of the men involved.

Would you ever listen to anything by Patrick K. O’Donnell again?

Yes, i heard him bring interviews on pubic radio which is what drew me purchasing the audio book. Excellent research.

What does John Pruden bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

John does an excellent job of capturing the closeness of the men, their commitment to their assignments. Descriptions of battles were vivid.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A quick introduction to my ratings...everyone has their own views so you should know what mine are so my review may be of help***** - 5 Stars, an all time great that I would want to read every year**** - 4 Stars, a good book that I would be willing to read again*** - 3 Stars, an average book, glad I read but would not read again** - 2 Stars, I finished but was sorry I did and would not recommend it* - 1 Star, i could not even finish it

I list my recommendation if you were my friend, my overall thoughts and then list the 2 things I liked best and the 2 things I liked least about the book. This is not conclusion, rather a 1 min review.

Recommendation - If you like military history, i.e. books like With the Old Breed, Band of Brothers, etc, I highly recommend this book.Overall,this book is another tribute to the brutality of war and the hearts of the WWII generation. They speak of many battles as the summary describes. It is not sugar coated, the author pulls no punches in romanticizing war.

Best1. The description of life in battle pulled no punches. The author also expanded on the quotes, attributing them to the interview or source, so the reader knows they were not the author's narrative, they were from interviews, 1st hand accounts. I appreciate that as many authors like to add to it.

2. I enjoyed the ending when the author spoke of what came of the members of Dog Company, it is good to hear how their lives ended up!

Least1. There is little to say here. I would have enjoyed more background to what was going on big picture, not just the 1st hand accounts, but that would have made for a much longer story.

2. There really was nothing major I did not like about this book. It will come down to personal preference.

I go from fiction to nonfiction on a routine basis. This book reads like fiction. It brings to life the sacrifices and suffering that a whole generation undertook to save western civilization. Books like these should mandatory reading in high schools.

"Dog Company" followed the timeline of "Band of Brothers" (D-Day to V-E Day in Germany) but from the perspective of a different unit. It wasn't the same stories but many new ones. The books are complementary of each other and provide a dramatic history of America's fighting men in the European Theater in WWII.

I believe the battle for Hill 400 is unique to this book. It is quite a hellish story of battlefield horrors and the near destruction of an army unit that held out time and again against attacks from a superior force. I'd like to see a book dedicated to this battle with as complete a rendition as possible from both opposing forces. I'd bet the Germans haves some great tales about Hill 400.

The only shortcoming I found in the book was in the limited development of the personal stories of the men of Dog Company. These were citizen soldiers from many walks of America life who willingly faced battles and campaigns fraught with horrific experiences that could have come from Satan's own top ten list of ways to die. For the most part, the Rangers of Dog Company bravely and repeatedly faced it all with a spirit of aggressive individualism, personal sacrifice, and mission accomplishment. If faced with similar circumstances that might be a hard act to follow in today's modern Army where political correctness, obese bureaucracy, bloated Hqs staffs, and hi-tech micromanagement rules the day.

John Pruden was an excellent narrator and seemed a natural for this book.

Would you try another book from Patrick K. O’Donnell and/or John Pruden?

Possibly.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Well, the allies won WW2 so that's not much of a spoiler.

Which scene was your favorite?

Some of the guys had to relieve themselves at really unfortunate times. That and other details that don't make it into war movies portrayed the men of Dog Company as real people.

Do you think Dog Company needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Probably not. I think the material was covered adequately.

Any additional comments?

I appreciated this book because it was a well told story of a generation which I admire. I don't like the reality of war but I value people who do what they can to stand in the way of evil even though the cost to themselves is potentially so great.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.